Air conditioner

ABSTRACT

There is provided an air conditioner. The air conditioner includes a front frame, a base, a blower fan, and a panel assembly. The front frame includes a discharge port formed on at least one side thereof. The base is coupled at a rear of the front frame and forms at least one intake port for suctioning indoor air. The blower fan is installed between the front frame and the base for suctioning the indoor air through a rear thereof and discharging the indoor air through a front thereof. The panel assembly is installed at a front of the front frame for allowing an interchanging of a picture, photograph, etc.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an air conditioner, and moreparticularly, to an indoor unit of an air conditioner for allowingpictures or photographs displayed at the front thereof to be easilyinterchanged, thus providing the functional benefits of an airconditioner with an added aesthetic factor for interior decoration.

2. Description of the Related Art

Refrigerants circulating inside air conditioners undergo compression,condensing, expansion, and evaporation stages of a refrigeration cycle.In an air conditioner, refrigerant is first compressed to become high intemperature and pressure, and loses heat to the outside in a condenser,after which it passes through an expansion valve, gradually cooling anddepressurizing. The cooled and depressurized refrigerant flows throughan evaporator, absorbing heat along the way, and is then recycled to thecompressor.

Here, the compression, condensing, and expansion stages occur in anoutdoor unit of an air conditioner; and the evaporation stage occurs inan indoor unit by virtue of a blower fan and a heat exchanger.

Air conditioners are grouped into two basic types: single unit airconditioners that consist of a single unit which performs the entirerefrigeration cycle, installed in a wall opening such as a window, andsplit system air conditioners that have a separate indoor and outdoorunit that are respectively installed indoors and outdoors.

Such air conditioner indoor units according to the related art havefront portions that function only as covers. That is, a front coverinstalled at the front of an indoor unit functions to preventcomponents, such as a blower fan, heat exchanger, etc., from beingexposed to the outside, as well as preventing electrocution or injury ofchildren who may otherwise stick their hands inside the unit.Accordingly, the front of an indoor unit has a monotonous and stoicfeel, and does not harmonize well with an interior.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to an air conditionerthat substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations anddisadvantages of the related art.

An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditionerindoor unit with a structure that allows easy installation and removalof pictures or photographs to and from its blank front cover, so thatthe unit fulfills its air conditioning duties, as well as complementsthe decor of an interior space.

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will beset forth in part in the description which follows and in part willbecome apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art uponexamination of the following or may be learned from practice of theinvention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may berealized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in thewritten description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with thepurpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, anair conditioner according to the present invention includes: a frontframe including a discharge port formed on at least one side thereof; abase coupled at a rear of the front frame and forming at least oneintake port for suctioning indoor air; a blower fan installed betweenthe front frame and the base for suctioning the indoor air through arear thereof and discharging the indoor air through a front thereof; anda panel assembly installed at a front of the front frame for allowing aninterchanging of an image.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description of the present invention areexemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide furtherexplanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principle of theinvention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a frontal perspective view of an indoor unit of an airconditioner according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is rear perspective view of the indoor unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the interior structure ofthe indoor unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a panel assembly according to the firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a panel assembly according to the secondembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a panel assembly according to the thirdembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a panel assembly according to the fourthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an indoor unit of an airconditioner with a panel assembly according to the fifth embodiment ofthe present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an indoor unit of an airconditioner with a panel assembly according to the sixth embodiment ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be usedthroughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 1 is a frontal perspective view of an indoor unit of an airconditioner according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is rearperspective view of the indoor unit in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an explodedperspective view showing the interior structure of the indoor unit inFIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, the indoor unit 100 of the airconditioner according to the present invention includes a front frame120, a panel assembly 200 mounted at the front of the front frame 120and holding a picture or a photograph within, and a base 160 coupled tothe rear of the front frame 120, for protecting components within.

In further detail, the front frame 120 has a side discharge port 121formed at its side and a lower discharge port 123 formed at its bottom.A louver 122 is installed between the front frame 120 and the panelassembly 200 to open and close the side discharge port 121.

Also, the indoor unit 100 includes a blower fan 130 installed at therear of the front frame 120 to suction indoor air, a motor (not shown)installed at the rear of the front frame 120 and connected to the blowerfan 130 to rotate the blower fan 130, and a guide plate 140 for guidingair suctioned by the blower fan 130 towards the discharge ports.Specifically, the guide plate 140 has an upper air guide 141 for guidingindoor air suctioned by the blower fan 130 to the side discharge port121, a lower air guide 142 for guiding the air to the lower dischargeport 123, and an air directing vane 144 for controlling the direction ofair discharged from the side discharge port 121. An air guide hole 145is formed at the central portion of the guide plate 140 for guiding theair suctioned by the blower fan 130. An electrical component portion147, such as a printed circuit board (PCB) is formed at the top of theguide plate 140 to house electrical components. A discharge vane 143 isinstalled at the lower discharge port 123 to control the direction inwhich air is discharged from the lower discharge port 123.

The indoor unit 100 further includes a heat exchanger 150 installed atthe back of the guide plate 140 to exchange heat with the suctioned air,a filter 170 installed behind the heat exchanger 150 to filterimpurities from the suctioned air, and a base 160 having the filter 170inserted at the front thereof and an intake port 161 at central and/orperipheral portions thereof for suctioning air. The heat exchanger 150has a refrigerant tubing 151 that is bent a plurality of times forrefrigerant to flow through, and cooling fins arranged along the outersurface of the refrigerant tubing 151. A filter insertion slot 163 isformed at the lower edge portion of the base 160 for inserting thefilter 170 into. A drain pan 180 is installed below the heat exchanger150 to receive water that condenses on and drips down from the surfaceof the heat exchanger 150, and a tubing cover 190 installed below thedrain pan 180.

The operation of the above-structured indoor unit of an air conditioneraccording to the present invention will now be described. First, whenpower is turned on in the indoor unit 100, the drive motor operates toturn the blower fan 130. Simultaneously, the louver 122 and thedischarge vane 143 operate to open the side discharge port 121 and thelower discharge port 123. The air directing vane 144 pivots back andforth in a clockwise and a counter-clockwise direction at apredetermined angle. The rotating blower fan 130 suctions indoor airthrough the intake port 161. The indoor air suctioned through the intakeport 161 passes through the filter 170 and is removed of impurities, andpasses through the heat exchanger 150, whereupon its temperature drops.The air that passes through the heat exchanger 150 passes through theguide plate 140, and is discharged back into the indoor space throughthe side discharge port 121 and the lower discharge port 123 of thefront frame 120 by being guided by the upper air guide 141 and the lowerair guide 142. Here, the air that is discharged through the sidedischarge port 121 and the lower discharge port 123 is evenlydistributed inside the indoor space by means of the oscillating airdirecting vane 144 and the discharge vane 143.

Additionally, a picture, photograph, etc. is interchangeably installedon the panel assembly 200 formed at the front of the front frame 120, sothat the indoor unit not only performs air conditioning duties, but alsodecorates the interior.

A description of the panel assembly 200 will now be provided in furtherdetail, with reference to the diagrams.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a panel assembly according to the firstembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the panel assembly 200 according to the presentinvention includes a front panel 210 received at the front of a frontframe 120 (refer to FIG. 3), an art panel 230 detachably mounted at thefront portion of the front panel 210 and having a picture or photographattached thereon, and a front cover 220 for preventing impurities fromsettling on the art panel 230 and protecting the art panel 230 fromdamage caused by collisions with external objects.

In further detail, an art panel receptacle 211 is formed at the front ofthe front panel 210 for mounting the art panel 230 in. Depending on themodel, a display 212 may be formed below the art panel receptacle 211 todisplay the operational status of the indoor unit 100.

The front cover 220 is pivotably mounted to the front panel 210 by meansof a hinge 240. A magnet 221 is installed on an inner edge of the frontcover 220. Accordingly, when the front cover 220 is closed, the magneticforce of the magnet 221 prevents the front cover 220 from easilydetaching from the front panel 210. Here, according to its mountedlocation on the hinge 240, the front cover 220 may pivot on the left,right, top or bottom. Also, instead of the hinge 240, the front cover220 may have a plurality of magnets 221 formed on its rear surface, sothat the front cover 220 can be completely detached from the front panel210. Accordingly, the magnetic force of the magnets 221 causes the frontcover 220 to couple with the front panel 210. Here, the size and numberof magnets may be altered to provide a suitable cohering force betweenthe front cover 220 and the front panel 210. That is, by adjusting thecohering force to a suitable level, a user is able to easily detach thefront cover 220, while the front cover 220 is prevented fromautonomously detaching from the front panel 210 and falling to thefloor.

Additionally, the front panel 210 may be detachably coupled orpermanently fixed to the front frame 120. In order to allow the artpanel 230 to be viewed from the outside, the front cover 220 may beformed of a transparent material.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a panel assembly according to the secondembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the panel assembly 200 according to the presentinvention is characterized by the front cover 220 being coupled to thefront panel 210 by hooks.

Specifically, the front cover 220 has a hinge 240 on one edge thereoffor pivotably coupling it to the front panel 210, and at least one hook222 formed at the opposite edge. The front panel 210 has a hookreceptacle 213 formed thereon for receiving the hook 222 insertedtherein. Conversely, the hook 222 may be formed on the front panel 210,and the hook receptacle 213 may be formed on the front cover 220.

In the above structure, in order to replace an art panel 230 mounted inthe front panel 210, a user pulls the front cover forward 220 so thatthe hook 222 is released from the hook receptacle 213. After the artpanel 230 is replaced, the front cover 220 is pivoted on the hinge 240so that the hook 222 inserts back into the hook receptacle 213.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a panel assembly according to the thirdembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, the panel assembly 200 according to the presentinvention is characterized by the front cover 220 being completelydetachable from the front panel 210.

In further detail, a hook is used instead of a hinge 240 for couplingthe front cover 220 to the front panel 210.

That is, a plurality of hooks 222 are formed on the rear surface of thefront cover 220, and a corresponding number of hook receptacles 213 forreceiving the hooks 222 to be inserted therein are formed on the frontof the front panel 210. Of course, the locations of the hooks 222 andhook receptacles 213 may be interchanged. In other words, the hooks 222may be formed on the front panel 210, and the hook receptacles 213 maybe formed on the front cover 220.

In the above structure, a user presses the front cover 220 against thefront of the front panel 210 so that the hooks 222 formed on the back ofthe front cover 220 insert into the hook receptacles 213. In order toremove the front cover 220 from the front panel 210, the front cover 220is pulled in an opposite forward direction.

In order to allow the front cover 220 to be removed from the front panel210, a magnet may be used in this embodiment instead of the hookassembly. That is, a plurality of magnets may be installed on the rearsurface of the front cover 220 and/or the front surface of the frontpanel 210, so that the front cover 220 attaches to the front panel 210by means of magnetic force.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a panel assembly according to the fourthembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, the panel assembly 200 according to the presentinvention includes a cavity formed inside the front panel 210 forinserting the art panel 230 into, where the art panel 230 is insertedinto the front panel 210 through a top or a side thereof.

In further detail, the front panel 210 is formed of a transparentmaterial that allows its interior to be seen from the outside. A cavityhaving a three-dimensional size corresponding to that of the art panel230 is formed within the front panel 210. An insertion slot 214 isformed at the top or at a side of the front panel 210 to insert the artpanel 230 through.

The above structure allows the art panel 230 to be freely interchanged,and also reduces the manufacturing cost of the panel assembly.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an indoor unit of an airconditioner with a panel assembly according to the fifth embodiment ofthe present invention.

Referring to FIG. 8, the panel assembly 200 according to the presentinvention includes a front panel 210 mounted on the front of the frontframe 120, a pivoting axis 250 provided on a portion of the front of thefront panel 210, a front cover 220 coupled at the front of the frontpanel 210 by means of the pivoting axis 250 so that it can rotate in aclockwise or a counter-clockwise direction with respect to the frontpanel 210, and an art panel 230 mounted to the front portion of thefront panel 210 and protected by the front cover 220. Also, as in theprevious embodiments, a picture or photograph is attached to the frontof the art panel 230.

A latch hook 215 is formed on the front of the front panel 210 at alocation opposite to the pivoting axis 250 to prevent the front cover220 from moving. Also, a latch receiver 223 is formed on the back of thefront cover 220 in order to insert the latch hook 215 therein andprevent the front cover 220 from moving. Again, it is obvious that thelatch hook 215 may be formed on the front cover 220, and the latchreceiver 223 may be formed on the front panel 210.

In the above structure, in order to change the art panel 230, a userrotates the front panel 220 in a predetermined angle so that the latchhook 215 is removed from the latch receiver 223. Then, after changingthe art panel 230, the front cover 220 is rotated in the oppositedirection to resume its original position so that the latch hook 215inserts back into the latch receiver 223.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an indoor unit of an airconditioner with a panel assembly according to the sixth embodiment ofthe present invention.

Referring to FIG. 9, the indoor unit 100 of an air conditioner accordingto the present invention is characterized in that the front panel 210attached to the front of the front frame 120 is a liquid crystal display(LCD), a plasma display panel (PDP), or an organic light emitting diode(OLED).

Specifically, a digital data transfer portion is formed at one end ofthe front panel 210, and a cable 310, being a transferring part fortransferring digital data, is connected to the digital data transferportion. A display device 216 is formed on the front of the front panel210 to display images derived from digital signals. Images from digitalsignals transferred through the cable 310 are displayed on the displaydevice 216. Thus, a user does not need to directly install a picture orphotograph, but can save a large quantity of pictures, photographs, orother digital imagery as digital files and selectively display theseimages on the display device 216. In other words, the front panel 210can function as the panel assembly 200.

For example, after saving preferred pictures, photographs or movingimages as files on a computer, a user can display them on the displaydevice 216 through the cable 310. By thus providing the display device216, there is no need to manually change pictures or photographs, andthe front of the air conditioner 100 may function as a monitor as well.

The indoor unit of the air conditioner according to the presentinvention performs not only the functions of an indoor unit according tothe related art, but also allows the display of easily interchangeableimages such as art prints and family portraits at the front thereof, tobecome a piece of furniture complimenting the interior of a room.

By allowing the interchangeable display of photographs, pictures, etc.at the front thereof, the above structure of the air conditioner indoorunit can augment the interior decoration of a room, and thus has a highindustrial applicability.

While the present invention has been described and illustrated hereinwith reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be apparentto those skilled in the art that various modifications and variationscan be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers themodifications and variations of this invention that come within thescope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

1. An air conditioner comprising: a front frame including a dischargeport formed on at least one side thereof; a base coupled at a rear ofthe front frame and forming at least one intake port for suctioningindoor air; a blower fan installed between the front frame and the basefor suctioning the indoor air through a rear thereof and discharging theindoor air through a front thereof; and a panel assembly installed at afront of the front frame for allowing an interchanging of an image. 2.The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the panel assemblyincludes: a front panel attached to a front of the front frame; an artpanel mounted at a front of the front panel and having the imageattached thereto; and a front cover made of a transparent materialmounted at a front of the art panel and coupled to the front panel. 3.The air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein the front cover ispivotably coupled to the front panel.
 4. The air conditioner accordingto claim 2, wherein the panel assembly further includes a hinge forallowing the front cover to pivot from an edge of the front panel at apredetermined angle to the front panel.
 5. The air conditioner accordingto claim 2, wherein the panel assembly further includes a pivoting axisfor rotatably mounting the front cover thereto and allowing the frontcover to rotate in a clockwise or a counter-clockwise direction withrespect to the front panel.
 6. The air conditioner according to claim 5,wherein the panel assembly further includes: a latch hook formed at alocation opposite to the pivoting axis on the front panel, forpreventing a movement of the front cover with respect to the frontpanel; and a latch receiver formed on the front cover for receiving thelatch hook therein.
 7. The air conditioner according to claim 2, whereinthe panel assembly further includes at least one magnet attached to atleast one of a rear of the front cover and the front of the front panel,the magnet for cohering the front cover to the front panel.
 8. The airconditioner according to claim 2, wherein the panel assembly furtherincludes: at least one hook formed on a rear of the front cover; and atleast one hook receptacle formed on the front of the front panel for thehook to be inserted therein.
 9. The air conditioner according to claim2, wherein the front cover is detachably mounted to the front panelthrough a hook or a magnet.
 10. The air conditioner according to claim1, wherein the panel assembly is detachably coupled to the front frame.11. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the panel assemblyincludes: an art panel having an image attached thereto; and a frontpanel having a cavity for receiving the art panel therein, and aninsertion slot formed at a top or a side thereof for inserting the artpanel through.
 12. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein thepanel assembly is formed with one of an LCD (liquid crystal device), PDP(plasma display panel), and OLED (organic light emitting diode).
 13. Theair conditioner according to claim 12, wherein the panel assemblyincludes: a display device for displaying a digital image on a frontthereof; and a data transferring part formed on an edge thereof fortransferring digital data.
 14. An air conditioner comprising: a frontframe forming at least one discharge port on a periphery thereof; a basecoupled at a rear of the front frame and forming at least one intakeport for suctioning indoor air; a blower fan installed between the frontframe and the base for suctioning the indoor air through a rear thereofand discharging the indoor air through a front thereof; a heat exchangerdisposed at a front of the base for exchanging heat between thesuctioned indoor air and refrigerant; and a panel assembly including afront panel installed on a front of the front frame, a front coverpivotably or rotatably installed on a front of the front panel, and anart panel inserted between the front panel and the front cover.
 15. Theair conditioner according to claim 14, further comprising: a pivotingmember for pivotably coupling the front cover to a side of the frontpanel; and a cohering member for cohering the front cover to the frontpanel.
 16. The air conditioner according, to claim 15, wherein thecohering member is a hook or a magnet.
 17. The air conditioner accordingto claim 14, wherein the panel assembly is detachably mounted to thefront frame.
 18. An air conditioner comprising: a front frame forming atleast one discharge port on a periphery thereof; a base coupled at arear of the front frame and forming at least one intake port forsuctioning indoor air; a blower fan installed inside the base forsuctioning the indoor air through the intake port and discharging theindoor air through the discharge port; a heat exchanger disposed at afront of the base for exchanging heat between the suctioned indoor airand refrigerant; and a panel assembly including a front panel installedon a front of the front frame, a front cover detachably installed on afront of the front panel, and an art panel mounted at the front of thefront panel.
 19. The air conditioner according to claim 18, wherein thefront cover is detachably installed on the front panel through a hook ora magnet.
 20. An air conditioner comprising: a front frame forming atleast one discharge port on a periphery thereof; a base coupled at arear of the front frame and forming at least one intake port forsuctioning indoor air; a blower fan installed between the front frameand the base for suctioning the indoor air through a rear thereof anddischarging the indoor air through a front thereof; a heat exchangerdisposed at a front of the base for exchanging heat between thesuctioned indoor air and refrigerant; and a panel assembly including afront panel made of a transparent material and installed on a front ofthe front frame, and an art panel inserted inside the front panel. 21.An air conditioner comprising: a front frame forming at least onedischarge port on a periphery thereof; a base coupled at a rear of thefront frame and forming at least one intake port for suctioning indoorair; a blower fan installed between the front frame and the base forsuctioning the indoor air through a rear thereof and discharging theindoor air through a front thereof; a heat exchanger disposed at a frontof the base for exchanging heat between the suctioned indoor air andrefrigerant; and a panel assembly installed at a front of the frontframe, wherein the panel assembly is formed with one of an LCD (liquidcrystal display), PDP (plasma display panel), and OLED (organic lightemitting diode), and the panel assembly includes a data transferringpart formed on a side thereof for transferring digital data.